Telephone system.



C. S. WINSTON.

TELEPHONE SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED JAN-2. m3.

Patented Oct. 26, 1915.

v 2' 225 5555: JEUEHZEF: ZZEPZEEEZ/ Z/z'zz570z2 l a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Chicago, county of Cook, and- CI-IARLES S. WINSTON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, 'ASSIGNOR TO KELLOGG SWITCHBOARD AND SUPPLY COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

TELEPHONE SYSTEM.

Patented Oct. 726, 1915. Application filed January 2, 1913. Serial Nb. 739,656.

1 157 746 Specification of Letters Patent.

To all whom it may concern: sociated with the answering end of the cord Be it known that 1, CHARLES S. WINSTON,

v lay TA and the sleeve answering supercircuit is the tip answering supervisory re- State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in TelephoneSystems, of which. the following is a spec1fication.

My invention relates to common battery telephone exchange systems, and more particularly to automatic ringing or signalmg means and an automatic busy signal to notify a calling subscriber that the wanted line is busy. This busy signal is transmitted to the calling subscriber without the usual preliminarytest to see whether the line is in an idle or busy condition.

An object of my invention is the provision of a simplified system of the above character having certain new features-as will be more particularly pointedout.

Referring now to the accompanying drawing, I have illustrated a circuit arrangement adapted for interconnecting two common battery lines,the arrangement comprising a common batterysubstation A associated with the common battery line circuit C, a two-wire cordcircuit Dand a common battery substation B associated with the line circuit E. For the purpose of illustrating my invention we Wlll assume an exchangewith a number of common battery lines terminating at a switch-board in line circuits as C and E.

Referring now in detail to the apparatus used in the system as illustrated, the substation A is of a well-known common battery type connected by the line conductors 1 and 2 to the common battery line circuits C. The line circuitC comprises a cut-off relay G0 a line relay LR, line lamp L and multiple jacks J. To the right of the drawing is shown a four-party line having four substa tions B, B B and B connected thereto, the circuit of each of the substations being simi lar to that shown connected to the line at A. The substation B terminates at the exchange in a common battery line, circuit E similar to that at C.

The common battery cord circuit D comprises an answering plug P and a calling plug P the said plugs being conductively united by the heavily marked conductors T and S and the interposed condensers. As-

means of the interrupter lay being adapted to have its energizing cirvisory relay SA, the'tip supervisory and sleeve supervisory relays being operated to control the answering supervisory lamp 3. The busy back relay BBB is operated when the called line is busy to connect the busy signal BB to notify the calling subscriber i i that the wanted line is busy and also lights the calling supervisory lamp 4 of the calling end of the cord circuit D. The listening key LK is operated by the operator to connect her operators set 0 with the cord circuit. The operators set is. common to and adapted to connect with any one of a number of cord circuits D in a well-known manner.

The tip calling supervisory relay TC and the sleeve calling supervisory relay SC are operated to control the calling supervisory lamp 4. For'ringing purposes I preferably use four generators 6, 6 b and 6 each one being of a different frequency while the bells of the subscribers on the party lines are tuned to correspond with the frequencies of the said generators.

It is to be understood though, that my invention is not limited to party lines. In-

ringing the called-for subscriber'one of the contact springs 5, 6, 7 or 8 is actuated depending upon the frequency of the bell of the called-for subscriber. The contacts 9 and 10 are master contacts associated with the ringing contacts andare closed when any one of the key plungers for contacts 5, 6, I, or 8 is fully depressed. The ringing key plungers have three positions, normal, intermediate or looking and fully depressed. The key when in its fully depressed or third position has its ringing contacts and the master contacts 9 and 10 closed. The key when in its intermediate or looking position has its ringing contacts closed but the master contacts 9 and 10 normal. The ringing key plunger remains in its intermediate or looking position until another key plunger is fully depressed when the said locked key restores to its normal position.

The subscribers bell is intermittently rung and this intermittent ringing is secured by cuit opened and closed by means of the interrelay IR, this re- "gers is fully depressed, .thus operating the master 'contacts'9 and 10, the opening of con- ,rupter I. Theinterrupter I is connected to the relay IR through contacts of the ring-- ing control relay RCR. The relay RCRis, actuated when one of. the ringing key pluntact 9 removing the shunt from around the relay RGR. The busy back cut-oft. relay BCO is also actuated at the same timeby the closing of contact 10 of the master contacts and is held. in energized position by a locking circuit through its alternate contact 27 I. to round at contact 18 of .rela SC.

- with the substation-B the subscriber at .A

relay CO, the line. limb 2 through the subpemti0m-Assuming now t at the subscrlber at substation A deSlI'GS a connection takes his receiver from the switch hook V closlng an energizmg circult for the line re-;

lay LR, traced from battery through the said relay, normal contact 11 of the cut-off.-

station A, the line limb 1 to groundat normal contact 12 of cut-off relay CO. The energization of relay LR. closes a circuit: through-the line lamp L traced from battery through the lamp L to ground at alternate contact 13 of relay DE. The operator 010- serving the signal inserts a plug P into the j answering jack J energizing the cut-off rethrough the substation A, line limb 1, alterlay CO and efi'acing' the line lamp L. 'The/ energizing circuit of relay CO may be traced from battery through the relay SA, the

sleeve conductor S, of cord circuit D, sleeve contacts of the plug P and jack J through the winding of the relay CO to ground. The relays CO' and- SA are thus connected in series and energized. Upon the energization of relay CO a circuitis closed through the relay TA, the circuit being traced from battery through relay SA sleeve conductor S,;. the sleeve contacts of the plug- P and the jack J, the circuitbranching at alter nate contact 11 of relay CO, theline limb 2 nate contact 12 of relay CO, the tip contacts of jack J and plug P, tip conductor T through the winding of relay TA to ground.

The relays TA and SA being energized, the supervisory lamp 3 is not lighted. The op erator then throws the listening key .LK and'connectsv her operators set O with the line and inquires the wants of the calling subscriber and assuming that it is the 'subnary test. Now, assuming that the subscriber B, she insertsjthe calling plug P into the jack J without the usual prelimistationB is idle a circuit for relays SC and CO is established from battery through the;-

4, normal contact 15 of relay T C, conductor 16, conductor 17 to ground at alternate contact 18 of relay SC. The battery 28 passing through resistance 21, normal contact 9 conductor -13, normal contact 30 of relay RCR, conductor 23, alternate contact 20 of relay SC to ground at normal contact 19 oilers the. battery current a path of least resistance therefore shunting the winding of the relay QRCR. The operator having plugged into the wanted line and assuming now that the bell of the desired subscriber is tuned to correspond to the frequency of the generatorb, the operator closesthe contact -5 and at the same time momentarily operates the -contacts 9 and 10, the contact 5 re maining closed. As soon as the contact 9 is opened it removes the shunt from the relay RCR and a circuit is closed from battery 28 through the resistance 21, conductor-22, the winding of relay RCR,'conductor-23, alternate'contact 20 of relay SC to ground at normal contact 19 of relay TC energizing the relay RCR. The master contact 10 is closed the same time that contact 9 is-opened, the contact 10 establishing circuit for the relay BCO from battery through the relay BOO, conductor 2%, closed contact 10, conductor 25 to ground at normal contact 26 of relay BBB, energizing therelay BOO, which looks itself through its alternate contact 27 to ground at alter nate contact 18. i The relay BCO is energized and is locked in energizing position until the calling plug is withdrawn. The energization of relay BCO opens contact 37 so that when the called subscriber answers the-relay BBR will not be energized by reason'of open contact 37. The relay RCR upon energization closes a circuit through the interrupter ,relay IR from battery through the interrupter I, the relay IR,

[conductor 29, alternate contact 30, of relay RGR, conductor 23, alternate Contact 20 of relay SC to ground at contact 19. Relay IR is now responsive to the interruptions of its circuit at interrupter I, and due to the intermittent energizations of the relay IR the contact 31 alternately connects tip relay TC and the generator I) in bridge of the called The circuit for ringing current is established from the ungrounded pole of the generator I) through the alternate contacts 5, 31, conductor 32, the tip conductor T, the tip contacts of theplug P and .jack J alternate contact 12 of relay CO, the line limb 1 through the condenser and bell of the substation 13 back over line 2 the alternate contact 11 of relay CO the sleeve .contacts of the jack J and plug P the sleeve conductor S, the alternate contact 33 of relay RCR through the resistance to battery, and then to the grounded pole of generator b. The contacts 35 and 33 of relay its armature disconnecting ringing current from the line, the discharge of the condenser of' the called line will have a tendency to kick up the relay TC thereby opening circuit of the relay R-CR. To prevent the relay RCR from retracting its armature due to the interruptions of its circuit, the said relay is made slow-acting.

Whenthe called subscriber answers and when the relay IR is in its denergized condition a circuit is closed through the relay 'TC from battery through the relay SC,

sleeve conductor S, sleeve contacts of the plug P and jack J through the alternate contact 11 of the relay CO linelimb2 through the substation B, line limb 1 alternate contact 12 of relay CO tip contacts of jack J and plug P tip conductor T, conductor32, normal contact 31, conductor 34 through the relay TC to ground energizing the relay TC. The relay TC energizes and closes its alternate contact 19 removing the ground from the relay RCR, and the said relay RCR restoring, its contacts Y33 and 35 close restoring the continuity of the I talking conductors T and S. The contact 30 ofthe relay RCR also restores opening its alternate contact and thereby breaking the circuit of the relay IR. Also upon energization of relay TC, its normalcontact 15 is interrupted efl'acing the supervisory lamp 4, notifying the operator that the called subscriber has answered. The subscribers at A and B are now connected in conversa- I tional circuit which may be traced over the heavily marked conductors T and S.

When the subscribers have finished conversation they restore their receivers to their respective switch-hooks thereby opening the circuits of the supervisory relays TC and TA the supervisory relays SA and SC remaining energized while the plugs P and P are in the jacks J and J The supervisory lamps 3 and 4 are thus lighted notifying the operator that the subscribers have finished conversation. The operator then removes the plugs -P and P from the jacks J andJ effacing the said lamps. The cord circuit D and the lines A and B thus are restored to normal and are now available the same up to the time when the operatorv connects the plug P with the jack J as already described. As soon as the plug P is connected with the jack J the relays SC and TC operate from battery through therelay SC, conductor S, the sleeve contacts of the plug 1? and jack J 1 over the busy line back through the tip contacts of the jack J and the plug P conductor T, conductor 32, -normal contact 31, conductor 34, through the Winding of relay TC to ground energizing said relays. Relay TC therefore closes its alternate contact 19 which closes a circuit for relay BBR from battery through relay .BBR, conductor 38, normal contact 37, al-

ternate contact 39, conductor 40, alternate contact 19 to ground energizing relay BBB. The relay RCR and relay BCO do not energize even though the contacts 9 and 10 are closed because normal contact 19 of relay TC is interrupted. The relay BCO remain ing at normal, allowing the busy back signal to be sent over the calling line from busy back signal BB, through normal contact 41 of relay BCO', conductor 42, alternate contact 43, of relay BBR, the tip conductor T, tip contacts of the plug P and the jack J through the substation A back to ground through relay CO thus notifying the sub-.

nal replaces his receiver upon its switchhook, denergizing the relay TA which lights the supervisory lamp 3 and also lights the supervisory lamp 4. The circuit for lamp 4 is traced from battery, through said lamp 4, conductor 44, normal contact 45, conductor 46 to ground at alternate contact 26. The two supervisory lamps 3 and 4 being lighted, theoperator is aware that the Wanted line is busy and that the calling subscriber has replaced his receiver upon its switch hook. The operator then disconnects the plugs P and P from jacks J and J the relays TC and SC. The deenergization v of the relayTC deenergizes the relay BBR opening the alternate contact 43 to disconnect the busy signal. It also removes ground from the supervisory lamp 4 at alternate contact 26 effacing the said lamp 4. The removal of the plug .P denergizes the relay SA and eifaces the supervisory lamp 3. The cord circuit D and line A having been restored to normal, are available for other connections.-

' What I claim as new and desire to secure by United'States Letters Patent is:

1. A telephone system comprising telephone lines, a link circuit connected at one end to a calling line, means for connecting the other end of said link circuit to a called line, a response supervisory relay TC for The removal of the plug P denergizes 30 i I b 1.4L A i yste comprising a called A telephcne's'ystem comprlsmg a hnk upon connection made with the called line -when busy, a busysignal, and means con-' trolledby. said responserelay for connecting said busy signal to the callingline. 2. A telephone system comprising a calltelephone line, a link circuitconnected at one end thereto, a called telephone line,

means for connectingthe other end of said link circuit to said calledline, a response supervisory relay for; sa1d link circult,

a means for energizing said relay by current over the calledline when busy upon connecf tion made therewith, and means responsive .to such energization or said relay for transmitting a busy signal to the calling line. a.

A telephone system comprising "a link circuit having acalling end,'a called telehone' line and means for connecting said calling endi thereto, a response supervisory relay for saidlink circuit, means for energizing said relay current over the called linewhen busyI upon a 'connectionmade therewith, and means responsive-to such .energizatlon of sald relay for connecting a busy signalto the answeringend of the link circuit.

telephone line, atwo-conductor link circuit havinga calling end for connecting-thereto, a response .supervlsoryrelay connected to 'the'tip strand of said link circuit,.means for energizing sald relay by current over the Ycalled-line whenjbusy'upon connection m'ade a 'ther'ewlth, and. means respons ve to such en-- ergization of said relay' for I connecting a busysi'gna-l tothe other endof-the link circircuit having answering and calling ends, a called {telephone hne, a response. supervlsory relay for said l nk c1rcu 1t,a busy signal, means effective upon connection made.

withtheca'lled line when busy for energizingsaidrelay by current over the called line I whereby said busy signal is connectedto the :answeringend of the link circuit, means effective when connection is made with thecalled line ifidle whereby'said relay is not energized until the response from the called l substation, and'means to prevent-such said second energization. of .the response. relay from connecting said busy signal to the an;

,for. .energizing said relay by current over the called line when busy upon connection made therewith, and a second relay responsive to such e'nergization of said first relay for con- "I. A teleplion'esystem comprising a ink I circuit having answering andcalling ends, va called telephone line, and means fol-connecting said calling end thereto, aresponse supervisory relay for said link circuit, means for energizing said relay by current over the called line when busv upon connection made therewith, a second relay responsive to such energization of said first relay .for connecting a-bu'sy signal to the answering end and rendering said link circuit discontinuous, means whereby when connection, is made with an idle called linesaid response relay is not energized until aresponse is secured from the called substation, and Jneans to prevent such a second said energization of the response relay from effecting an energization ofsaid second relay.

8. A-telephone system comprising a calling telephone line and a called telephone a line, a link circuit connected at its answering end with the calling line, means for connecting the calling end of said link circuit to the called line, a response relay for said 'link circuit, means for energizing said relay upon connection made with the called line when busy, a busy signal, means effective upon such energization of the response relay for transmitting said busy signal to the calling substation, answering and calling supervisory signals for the cord circuitfand means responsive to the replacing of the receiver at the calling substation to operate said signals. v

' 9. A telephone system comprising a called telephone line, an operators link circuit having answering and calling ends, a response supervisory relay for the cord circuit, a busy back device, an operators key, automatically controlled ringing apparatus, means for energizing said relay upon connection made with the called line when busy whereby said busy device is connected with the answering end of the cord circuit, and means responsive to the actuation of said key if connection is made with said line when id'lewhereby said ringing apparatus is connected to the called line.

10. A telephone system comprising a called telephone line, an'operators link circuit having answering and calling ends, a response supervisory relay for the link cir- 'cuit, a busy back device, a ringing key and ringing apparatus, means for energizing said relay upon. connection made with the called.

line .When busy, and means responsive to such energization of said relay whereby said busy'device is connected with the. answering end of the cord circuit and said ringing apparatus rendered ineffective, 1

'11. A telephone system. comprising a called telephone line, an operators link circuit having answering and calling ends, a response supervisory relay for the link circuit, a busy back device, a ringing key and ringing apparatus, said relay being energized upon connection made with the called with said line when idle to connect the ringing appara'tusto the called line. 1

12. A telephone system including a link circuit provided witha pair of terminals and a calling supervisory signal, means for connecting one of said terminals to the line of a calling subscriber, means for connecting the other of said terminals to the line of a called subscriber, and means dependent upon the idle or busy condition of saidcalled line for either placing the control of the said calling supervisory signal under the control of the said called subscriber or under the control of said calling subscriber.

13. In a telephone system a calling and a called subscribers line, a link circuit provided with a pair of terminals and with a pair of supervisory signals, means for. connecting one terminal of the said link circuit to the said calling subscribers line thereby placing one of the said supervisory signals under the control of the calling subscriber, means for connecting the other terminal of said link circuit to the said called subscribersline, and means dependent upon the idle or busy condition of said called linefor either placing the control of the other supervisory signal under the control of said called subscriber or under the control of the said calling subscriber.

Signed by me at Chicago, county of Cook and State of Illinois in the presence of two witnesses.

. CHARLES S. WINSTON. Witnesses:

G. E. MUELLER, B.'OBR1EN. 

